Collapsible container



Jan. 28, 1964 J. w. WALLACE 3,119,508

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed March 29, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l 9 INVENTORJOSEPH W. WALLACE BY 9W 2, %MW

ATTORNEY J. W. WALLACE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Jan. 28, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1960 INVENTOR JOSEPH W. WALLACE BY g WM)ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1964 .1- w. WALLACE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29, 1960 INVENTOR JOSEPH W. WALLACE UnitedStates Patent 3,119,508 CGLLAPSHBLE CGNTAINER Joseph W. Wallace,Richmond, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va, acorporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 29, 196i}, Ser. No. 18,446 9 (Ilaims.(Cl. 226) This invention relates to collapsible containers and moreparticularly to an improved container of that type which ischaracterized by a lightweight side and bottom construction while at thesame time incorporating a sturdy framework construction.

In the shipping and handling of various commodities, especially freshfruit and vegetables, lightweight, collapsible containers which may beused repeatedly, are highly desirable, but at the same time requirecertain characteristics not needed in the ordinary container. Forexample, the container should not contribute to spoilage of fruit, asmay occur when the fruit is bruised by projecting from the confines ofthe container, such as often occurs with open mesh containers, or isbruised by resting upon a solid unyielding surface, such as often occurswith heavy wooden or metallic containers. Moreover, since refrigerationis often employed in the handling of such commodities, the containerconstruction preferably employs a ma terial of good heat conductivity.It, therefore, is a purpose of the invention to make available acontainer which satisfies the requirements of users as above indicated.

An object of the invention is to provide a lightweight, collapsiblecontainer affording an improved protection to its contents duringshipping and handling.

Another object is to provide a lightweight container Whose bottom andside walls are sufiiciently resilient to afford a cushioned holdingeffect upon the contents of the container.

Another object is to provide an improved container which is easilyassembled without requiring welding, nailing, or special fasteningmeans; which may be easily repaired without special tools and/or weldingor soldering equipment or the like; which may be easily collapsed afteruse and which may be easily expanded for re-use; which may be readilycleaned and which is non-corcodible; and which possesses an attractiveappearance.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds and when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the container in expanded form and ready foruse;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 shown in fullycollapsed form and to a smaller scale;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of one corner post taken on line55 of FIG. 1 and to an enlarged scale;

P16. 6 is a plan view of one typical bottom supporting spacer;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of one side wall taken on line 77 of FIG. 2and to a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of one side wall taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 2and to a larger scale;

FIG. 9 is a sectional View of one end wall taken on line 99 of FIG. 3and to a larger scale;

3,11%,53 Patented Jan. 28, 1934 FIG. 10 is a sectional view of one endwall taken on line 101tl of FIG. 3 and to a larger scale;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the bottom member taken on line 11l1 ofFIG. 1 and to a larger scale; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of one handle taken on line i212 of FIG. 3and to a larger scale.

In accordance with the invention an open top container is formed with acollapsible framework capable of providing the necessary containerrigidity when the container is set up and which framework includes fourvertical corner posts. Between adjacent posts a pair of upper and lowerrigid spacers are mounted, each spacer having means at its ends whichengage with the posts and permits the spacers to rotate partially aroundthe post in a horizontal plane, thus giving an articulated frameworkconstruction. Two side and two end walls, each having integrally formedsleeves at each of its edges, are mounted between the respectiveadjacent posts. The sleeves of these walls engage with the adjacentposts as well as with the corresponding upper and lower rigid spacersbetween the posts. A bottom member likewise has integral sleeve portionsalong one of its edges and which sleeve portions engage with one of thelower spacers intermediate two adjacent posts. Preferably, one or moreof the lower spacers, other than the one to which the bottom member ishinged, provides projecting portions which extend into the path oftravel of the hinged bottom when the container is expanded for use andwhich thus serve to support that bottom in operative condition forcontainer usage. Accordingly, the walls and bottom portions of thecontainer may be somewhat flexible, dependence being made upon the postand spacer framework for rigidity of the filled container. Thin wallmaterial may thus be employed in the container affording lightweight andreduced cost of construction.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, a typical expanded container embodyingthe invention may have a rectangular shape defined by a frameworkincluding corner posts 10, ll, 12, and 13. Each post is verticallyarranged and may be formed of a tubular aluminum alloy extrusionpreferably cylindrical in form and flared outwardly at each end.Adjacent the lowermost ends of the posts a pair of rigid rod-likespacers 15 and 16, one being shown in FIG. 6, are disposed, servingrespectively to hold posts 11, 12 and posts to, 13 apart, as well as togive rigidity to the framework. Each of these lower end spacersterminates at its ends in a substantially closed ring, as illustrated at14 and 17, adapted to embrace the circumference of the respective postto which it is attached, but having a slip fit therewith permitting thespacer to rotate in a horizontal plane about that post as a pivot.Moreover, each of these lower end spacers includes one or moreprojecting portions 18 and 19 which extend inwardly of the container andserve a purpose later to appear.

A pair of rigid upper end spacers 2t and 21 provided with similarinterrupted ring-like ends, but without the intermediate inwardlyprojecting portions, rotatably engage with the respective corner posts11, 12 and Ill, 13 near the upper ends of those posts.

In addition, a pair of rigid lower side spacers 22 and 23, of the sametype as described, and located as seen in FIG. 3, having similarinterrupted ring-like ends, rotatably engage with the respective cornerposts 12, 13 and 11, Ill adjacent the lower ends of those posts andserve to hold those posts at a spaced distance apart and to giverigidity to the framework. Finally, a pair of rigid upper side spacers24 and 25 of the same general type having interrupted ring-like ends,rotatably engage with the respective corner posts 11, 1d and 12, 13adjacent the upper ends of those posts and complete the structure of theframework. Each of the above-described spacers may, for example,comprise an extruded aluminum rod of about 0.25 inch diameter thuspossessing sufiicient tensile and compression strength to form, incombination with the corner posts, a strong but lightweight frameworkfor the container. The corner posts, however, have a larger diameterthan the spacer rods thus requiring larger diameter sleeves forengagement with those posts than for engagement with those rods.

Considering now FIGS. 3, 9 and 10, one end wall or skin member of thecontainer is shown and may comprise a sheet of aluminum alloy having athickness of about 0.032 inch, thus representing an extremely lightweight in contrast to Walls of usual containers. A plurality ofvertically extending outwardly bulging ribs shown at 31, 32 and 33 maybe formed integrally in the skin member 3!) to afford additionalrigidity therefor. The curled lower edge may include spaced portions 35,35A, and 3513 with the spaces therebetween being large enough toaccommodate the projections 18 and 19 of the lower side spacer 15. Theend wall member 30 also includes a curled upper edge 34 nesting securelyaround the upper end spacer 20. This curled upper edge may beinterrupted near the center of the wall to provide an open space 36suitable for a hand hold. Within this space a separate hollow handle 37(FIGS. 3 and 12), may be arranged around the upper spacer 20 with adiameter consistent with ease of handling and with the desiredcollapsibility of the container.

The end wall or skin 30 also includes along one of its vertical edgesthe larger curled portions 38 and 39 spaced from each other and servingas mounting sleeves rotatably engageable with the corner post 12. Alsoalong its other vertical edge the similar curled portions 49 and 41(FIG. 3) rotatably engage with the corner post 11.

In a similar manner, the opposite end Wall or skin 42 of like materialis provided with an opening at its upper edge housing the handle 43,with curled upper edge portions 44 nesting securely around the upper endspacer 21, with lower curled edge portions nesting securely around thelower end spacer 22, and with vertical edge curled portions serving asmounting sleeves rotatably engageable with the corner posts 10 and 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, one side wall or skin member of thecontainer is shown and may comprise a like sheet of thin aluminum alloywith a plurality of vertically extending outwardly bulging ribs 51 to58, inclusive. Along its upper edge the member 50 may have a singlecurled sleeve 59 to receive the upper side spacer 25 in securely nestedrelation therealong. Along its lower edge it may have a plurality ofcurled sleeves 60 to 65, inclusive, spaced from each other and receivingthe lower side spacer 22.

At its vertical edges the member 50 is provided with curled integralsleeve portions 66, 67, 68 and 69, '70, 71, respectively, rotatablyengageable with corner posts 13 and 12 and in interleaved relation tothe sleeves of the end wall members which engage with those same posts.

Similarly, the other side wall or skin member 75 of like material isprovided with a plurality of vertically extending outwardly bulgingribs; with a single curled sleeve at its upper edge receiving the upperside spacer 24; with a curled sleeve at its lower edge receiving thelower side spacer 23; and with curled sleeve portions at each of itsvertical edges rotatably engaging the respective corner posts 10 and 11and being spaced from each other along those posts and in interleavedrelation to the sleeves of the end walls which engage with those sameposts.

Considering now FIGS. 1 and 11, a bottom member 80 of similar aluminummaterial is provided with an upwardly facing peripheral edge 81 alongone side and along both ends and with interrupted upwardly facing edges82 along the side at which the bottom member is pivotally mounted. Aplurality of horizontally extending outwardly bulged transverse ribs 83to 93, inclusive, are formed in the bottom member and serve tostrengthen the same. Along the pivot side of the bottom member aplurality of integral sleeve portions 94 to 98, inclusive, rotatablysurrounding and engaging the lower side spacer 22 are disposed, thesesleeve portions alternating with the sleeve portions to of the side WallSt in their engagement with that lower side spacer. The side of thebottom opposite the pivot side thereof approaches closely the side wallof the container when the bottom member is moved into a horizontal planeand thus the rigidity of the framework and container is established eventhough the container may be later readily collapsed as now to bedescribed.

Referring to FIG. 4, the collapsed container requires only a smallstorage space, and when ready for use, the operator merely grasps it byhandle 37 and turns the container into an upright position. Thereafter,by moving corner posts 12 and 10 toward each other until a rectan gularcontainer shape is formed, the bottom 80, which has been housed betweenside walls 75 and 50 of the collapsed container then is free to pivotdownwardly about spacer 22 and into a horizontal plane. As it does so,its opposite ends come to rest upon the projections 18, 19 of the lowerend spacers 15 and 16 and its side edge 81 comes to rest in contact withthe lower portion of the side wall 75. During this expansion, theseveral vertical sleeve portions of the end walls or skins 3t? and 42and of the side walls or skins 50 and 75 have rotated about the cornerposts with which they engage, as have the interrupted ring ends of theseveral spacers of the framework.

With the foregoing in mind, an important advantage of the invention willnow become apparent. As the expanded set-up container is loaded, as withperishable fruit or vegetables, the weight of the contents will beexerted against the thin bottom and thin walls or skins. Each of theseelements is securely supported upon the rigid framework formed by thespacers and corner posts, but at the same time may flex outwardly to alimited extent due to the described sleeve construction. This flexing orresiliency provides an important cushioning effect for the contents andassists in reducing the bruising and subsequent spoilage when fruit orthe like is being handled. As is apparent, the interrupted ring-likenature of the sleeves permits a small amount of relaxing of the grip ofthe walls or bottom upon the posts or spacers as pressure is applied tothe inner surfaces of these walls or bottom, since the contact of thepartially open sleeve portions with the posts and spacers is of anon-rigid nature. However, upon relief of this pressure, the sleevesagain assume their securely nested relation upon these elements of thatframework.

it is to be understood that although the ribs 83 through 93 areillustrated as extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the bottom member 80, they may be parallel to the longitudinalaxis. The latter configuration is advantageous in transporting the boxalong a roller type of conveyor.

For the purpose of stacking a plurality of filled containers and toprevent the ribs on the bottom of an upper container from pressing uponthe contents of a lower container, a suitable spacing plug, as best seenin FIG. 5, may be employed. At least two such spacer plugs mounted ondiagonally disposed corner posts are employed, but three or even foursuch spacer plugs may be used, if desired. Each such spacer plugincludes a solid member 100, such as an aluminum casting having anintermediate peripheral shoulder 101, and is of a generally cylindricalshape. Each corner post is formed with slightly flared upper and lowerends terminating in curled flanges, one being seen at 102 for the cornerpost in FIG. 5 as an example. The lower part 103 of the plug is suitablyshaped to engage Within the upper end of the hollow corner post with asnug fit and to extend well below the plane at which the ring ends ofthe spacer rods, here shown as rods 16 and 24, are located. If desired,the corner post may also have a circumferential crimp, not shown,engaging with the lower part of the spacer plug. The upper part 104 ofthe spacer plug also is shaped so as to engage with a snug fit with thelower end of the corner post of another container which is to be mountedabove the described container. As will thus be seen, the upper flange102 of a given post will abut against the lower surface or shoulder 101of the spacer plug associated with that container while the lower flangeof a given post on another container to be stacked upon the firstcontainer will in turn abut against the upper surface of shoulder 191.Because of the flanged nature of the lower end of the post, however, thestacked containers can be readily disengaged from each other.

While aluminum alloy has been referred to as a preferred material in theall-metallic structure above described, it will be obvious that theinvention is not limited to that one material. However, it is preferredfor usage when citrus fruits or the like are to be housed within thecontainer. Aluminum, as well known, is non-corrodible when in contactwith the acids of such fruit; may be readily cleaned as by steam or thelike when the container becomes dirty through handling; is light weight;serves as an excellent heat transfer material when refrigeration isapplied to the contents of the container; and presents an attractiveappearance when the container is to be employed at point of sale.Additionally, because of the low emissivity of aluminum, the containerremains cool for a long period of time after the refrigeration has beendiscontinued.

Having thus described the invention, it will be understood that aparticular embodiment thereof has been shown and that the invention isnot limited to that one embodiment, since many modifications can bemade, and it therefore is contemplated by the appended claims to coverany such modifications as fall within the true scope and spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising, a collapsible framework including first,second, third and fourth cylindrical corner posts having an outwardlyflared flange at each end, a pair of rigid upper and lower spacersdisposed between each of the adjacent corner posts and attached to saidposts respectively inboard of said flanges, each spacer having aring-like means at its ends surrounding the respective posts forrotation of the spacers in a horizontal plane around said posts wherebysaid framework may be selectively collapsed and expanded by movingdiagonally arranged posts from and toward each other; first, second,third and fourth wall members mounted between the respective posts witheach member having substantially cylindrical sleeve means at each of itsvertical edges engaging with the respective posts for rotationthereabout and with substantially cylindrical sleeve means at each ofits horizontal edges engaging with the respective pair of spacers, eachmember engaging its respective pair of corner posts at the same pointson said respective pair of corner posts, each member being movable withthe respective pair of spacers on which the member engages, said wallmembers having flexible surfaces, and a bottom member havingsubstantially cylindrical sleeve means along one edge engaging with oneof said lower spacers and pivotally movable into a vertical plane whensaid container is collapsed and into a horizontal plane when saidcontainer is expanded.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein two of said lower spacerslocated opposite each other include projections extending inwardly ofsaid container and into the path of movement of said bottom member whensaid container is expanded thereby to provide a support for two edges ofsaid bottom member, said projections lying between the sleeve portionsof the respective walls attached to the respective spacers on which saidprojections are located.

3. An open-top container having flexible side walls and comprising, acollapsible framework, including first, second, third and fourthvertical cylindrical corner posts, a pair of rigid upper and lowerspacers disposed between each of the adjacent corner posts and attachedto said posts respectively adjacent the tops and bottoms of said posts,each spacer being of cylindrical rod shape and having means at its endsengaging the respective posts for rotation of the spacers in ahorizontal plane around said posts whereby said framework may beselectively collapsed and expanded by moving diagonally arranged postsfrom and toward each other; first, second, third and fourth wall membersof a material and thickness commensurate with limited outward flexing ofsaid members upon application of pressure to the interior surfacethereof and mounted between the respective corner posts with each memberhaving substantially cylindrical sleeve means at its vertical edgesengaging with the respective posts for rotation thereabout and fornon-rigid contact therewith, and substantially cylindrical sleeve meansat its horizontal edges engaging with the respective pair of spacers andfor non-rigid contact therewith; each member engaging its respectivepair of corner posts at the same points on said respective pair ofcorner posts; each member being movable with the respective pair ofspacers on which the member engages, and a bottom member havingsubstantially cylindrical sleeve means along one edge engaging with oneof said lower spacers in non-rigid contact therewith and pivotallymovable into a vertical plane when said container is collapsed and intoa horizontal plane when said container is expanded, one edge of saidbottom being in contact with the wall member located opposite said oneof said lower spacers when the container is expanded.

4. A container as defined in claim 3 wherein at least two oppositelydisposed wall members include vertically arranged outwardly bulged ribsintegral therewith.

5. A container as defined in claim 3 wherein the diameter of said postsis larger than the diameter of said spacers.

6. A container comprising: a collapsible framework including first,second, third and fourth corner posts; four pairs of upper and lowerspacers disposed between and pivotally attached to adjacent cornerposts; and first, second, third and fourth wall members mounted betweenthe respective corner posts, each wall member being pivotally secured toits adjacent pair of corner posts and to the upper and lower spacerssecured to that pair of corner posts, each wall member engaging itsrespective pair of corner posts at the same points on said respectivepair of corner posts.

7. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein a bottom member issecured to one of said lower spacers.

8. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein each corner post ishollow and has outwardly directed flanges at the opposed ends thereof,said flanges being disposed outboard of said spacers.

9. A container as set forth in claim 8 wherein a plurality of plugs aredisposed in the top ends of certain of said corner posts, each plughaving opposed conical portions defining an outwardly directed medialflange therebetween, each plug having one conical portion thereofdisposed in its respective corner post and having its flange engagingthe flange of that corner post whereby another container can be disposedon top of the first-named container with the other conical portions ofsaid plugs received in the lower ends of the corner posts of the othercontainer to space the other container from the firstnamed container.

Referenses Cites in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS660,308 Pixley Oct. 23, 1900 941,013 Doble et a1 Nov. 23, 1909 952,444Goldenetz Mar. 22, 1910 1,038,816 Arnold Sept. 17, 1912 1,138,644 DunlapMay 11, 1915 1,589,112 Chamberlain June 15, 1926 8 Molloy Nov. 8, 1927Flagstad July 1, 1930 Smiley May 1, 1934 Magill July 18, 1944 Sayer Apr.24, 1951 Donald Dec. 25, 1951 Eberhardt Mar. 30, 1954 Johnson July 14,1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 8, 1903

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING, A COLLAPSIBLE FRAMEWORK INCLUDING FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH CYLINDRICAL CORNER POSTS HAVING AN OUTWARDLY FLARED FLANGE AT EACH END, A PAIR OF RIGID UPPER AND LOWER SPACERS DISPOSED BETWEEN EACH OF THE ADJACENT CORNER POSTS AND ATTACHED TO SAID POSTS RESPECTIVELY INBOARD OF SAID FLANGES, EACH SPACER HAVING A RING-LIKE MEANS AT ITS ENDS SURROUNDING THE RESPECTIVE POSTS FOR ROTATION OF THE SPACERS IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AROUND SAID POSTS WHEREBY SAID FRAMEWORK MAY BE SELECTIVELY COLLAPSED AND EXPANDED BY MOVING DIAGONALLY ARRANGED POSTS FROM AND TOWARD EACH OTHER; FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH WALL MEMBERS MOUNTED BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE POSTS WITH EACH MEMBER HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE MEANS AT EACH OF ITS VERTICAL EDGES ENGAGING WITH THE RESPECTIVE POSTS FOR ROTATION THEREABOUT AND WITH SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE MEANS AT EACH OF ITS HORIZONTAL EDGES ENGAGING WITH THE RESPECTIVE PAIR OF SPACERS, EACH MEMBER ENGAGING ITS RESPECTIVE PAIR OF CORNER POSTS AT THE SAME POINTS ON SAID RESPECTIVE PAIR OF CORNER POSTS, EACH MEMBER BEING MOVABLE WITH THE RESPECTIVE PAIR OF SPACERS ON WHICH THE MEMBER ENGAGES, SAID WALL MEMBER HAVING FLEXIBLE SURFACES, AND A BOTTOM MEMBER HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE MEANS ALONG ONE EDGE ENGAGING WITH ONE OF SAID LOWER SPACERS AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE INTO A VERTICAL PLANE WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS COLLAPSED AND INTO A HORIZONTAL PLANE WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS EXPANDED. 